I worked out for an hour tonight at the Y and my legs now feel like Jello.  I walked 1 mile around the track, did 50 butterflies, 50 leg presses, 10 leg lifts and 10 arm presses.  I think I more than made up for not going yesterday.

Food wise I didn't do too badly I don't think.  I had a Fiber One toaster pastry for breakfast with a bottle of water flavored with Peach Mango Green Tea Crystal Lite, 8 fish sticks with ranch dressing and a bottle of water flavored with Peach Mango Green Tea Crystal Lite for lunch, and a bowl of chili with a fist full of shredded cheese and a spoonful of lite sour cream with a 1/2 glass of Diet rootbeer for dinner.

No snacks today since I really didn't have time running everywhere trying to get things done but the day isn't over yet.

Hopefully all this work today gives me something to show for it.  I guess we'll find out when I weigh in tonight and maybe it won't show up til the end of the week... who knows. 

just makes me want to work harder tomorrow.

I just got offered 2 new jobs.. and possibly a third.  I should start subbing in the Brookfield and Marcelline School Districts in the near future.  I have tax papers to fill out for Marcelline and I'm sure I will have some for Brookfield in the near future.  I also applied at Bucklin but they have quite a list right now but you just never know.  I can't wait to start my new jobs and go shopping for a new wardrobe.  Hopefully I can make the hours work with Amanda's schedule but I'm sure I'll work something out if it doesn't quite work as is.

Not sure when exactly I will start work but I figure possibly as soon as next week or maybe even the end of this week.

Will keep everyone posted on my progress.

Ok week 1 is done and over with so now time to see how I did for the week.  I didn't do as well as I had hoped but some is better than none.  I lost a total of 5lbs in 1 day but gained most of it back somehow during the week.  My total weight loss for the week was 1.2lbs.  I worked out what I could with my exercise ball and walked .81 miles on Saturday when it was so nice outside but didn't seem to do much good.  I have found some foods that I really like that aren't too bad for me.  The new Special K crackers are awesome.  They are like Wheat Thins only better and less calories.  There's 90 calories for 17 crackers or 120 calories for 24.  I also tried the new Fiber One Toaster Pastries in Blueberry.  Not wonderful but decent.  There are also some great snacks in 100 calorie packs that I've learned to love.  The White Cheddar Popcorn is GREAT and the mini striped shortbread cookies aren't bad either.  The cupcakes are ok... don't get me wrong they taste great but you're only getting 3 little cupcakes and I prefer to get more out of my snacks.

Anyway, this is the start of a new week and so far I'm on the right track.  I've already been to the YMCA this morning and walked 1.5 miles in less than an hour.  Now lets see if I can keep it up and eat right too.  Maybe I'll lose more than 1 lb.

Til my next blog keep working on it.

OK I have more motivation than ever to get down to 120 lbs in a year or less.  A friend offered me a great incentive to get down to 120, he will pay for me to get a boob job.  So my short term goals with rewards are as follows:



15 lbs: tanning package


25lbs: manicure


35lbs: shopping for a new outfit or two


50lbs a new wardrobe

I know we all make New Year's resolutions and most of the time we don't stick with them for more than maybe a couple days.. some more, some less but never make it the whole year.  My New Year's Resolutions were to lose weight, get a better job and take things one day at a time as they come.
It's been a struggle thus far to keep these resolutions but so far so good.  I started a diet very quietly and sure I've had some rough days but I'm sticking with it none the less.  Today I took a big step in the right direction by signing up for a scholarship to the YMCA so that I can go workout.  Now they said it will take 7-10 days for me to get notice of my payment amount but in that 7-10 days I will be working on my goals one step at a time.  My end goal is to lose a few sizes.  Not exactly get to a certain weight but more to a better size clothing wise and health wise.  My tenative schedule at the Y is gonna change I'm sure with my work schedule but I plan to go do water aerobics atleast once a week and do other workouts atleast 4 other days a week.
Now my second New Year's Resolution is a little different than most but so far I'm taking things in the right direction.  Today I got my background check and fingerprinting so that I can possibly go to work for 3 school districts.  It may take 2-3 weeks to get the report back to the school district but hopefully it won't.  I've been fighting an internal fight for so long it's not even funny.  The fight to just put up with the crap I take from my boss and the hours I get to work which isn't too many nowadays except when someone just so happens to be on vacation or out sick or to quit and be done with them.  My plan is to keep putting up with their crap as long as I can before I lose it or until I get a different job but I really want to be gone by the end of the month.  I hate working every 4th weekend, I'm scheduled 12 hours in 2 days but never get all of those hours.  So I'm still struggling hoping something will come along to end the war in my head.
The last is gonna be difficult for me because I like to plan things ahead of time and don't like surprises in my schedule nor do I handle some things well.  I'm trying to learn to take things as they come and not dwell on them because I know I can't go back and change things I can only learn to deal with them and go on with life.  So many things I would love to go back and change in my life but I can't all I can do is move forward and learn from my mistakes and embrace the lessons I've learned.  I am not doing this on my own, I have a great support system of friends whom without this resolution might not be possible.  I also plan to start journaling my thoughts, goals and successes daily to help me stay on track.
I know it's only 12 days into the new year but so far I'm on my way to making it a great year.  I'm sure I will stumble along the way but I will just have to pick myself up and go on.  Updates will be given atleast monthly if not weekly or even daily.

What a weekend it has been.  Friday night we sent great grandma by ambulance to the hospital for a head CT to see if there was any blood clots or what was causing her strange behavior.  She was talking like a child just learning to talk, she would scream out like she was in pain and then when we put her dinner in front of her she acted like she didn't know what to do with it.

So she got to the hospital about 7 and it took them til 11 that night to get her sedated enough to do a CT scan.  They admitted her to the hospital at 11:30 that night and as of Sat. they were going to keep her for atleast 3 days and see where things were at that point.

She has been refusing to eat or drink anything since she was admitted Friday night except once in awhile she might take a sip or two of water.  Tonight my grandma got her to eat 2 bites of Ice Cream, a bite of Jello and a couple sips of water for dinner but she got her to finish most of an Ensure tonight. 

She's also been refusing her meds and the only ones she is getting are the ones they can inject like the antibiotic for her UTI.

I feel for the poor nurses as she is quite hateful and not too happy to be in their care.  In fact I think she kicked a nurse a couple times today and has clocked them a couple times today as well.  It takes atleast 2 nurses to get anything accomplished to keep her from hitting the other one.

I tried bribing her with pie, etc. today just to get her to take some meds but no such luck.  We even tried lacing her coffee with a med to see if she would drink it but she wouldn't even take a sip.

Yesterday she was talking about how we all have to go sometime and she thought maybe it was her time to go.  Meaning she was giving up maybe... not sure completely because she honestly is in a time way before I was even thought about.  Most of the time I am usually called one of her sisters or someone I don't know.

That's all for tonight but I'm sure there will be more updates tomorrow.

I hate winter with a passion!  Especially after yesterday.  I went to work like any other day then came home for a short while.  I talked to my friend and we thought we would go look at the house that I really want in Bucklin.  It wasn't bad when I left but by the time I got to Marcelline it was starting to sleet.  We went on to Bucklin and then it was snowing.  We were being very careful all the way home.  I dropped her at her house and started on home.  The highways weren't too bad but the side streets weren't looking good.  I got almost 1/2 way through town when a lady pulled out in front of me.  She swerved to miss me and we both tried to stop but couldn't on the slushy mess.  Anyway, we went crunch.  Her car wasn't driveable as something happened to her wheel but my car is driveable just not looking great.  The hood is crunched in a little, the grill broken, and the bumper is pushed under some.  Noone was hurt although I did wake up this morning with a pain so bad in my neck even sneezing hurt.  Surprisingly the insurance company was rather quick to get the ball rolling on the claim.  They called me a few hours after the accident to ask me some questions and sent an adjuster out this morning to look at my car.  The adjuster says they will probably total it out because of the age of the car and due to some of the parts being discontinued.  I will have to wait on the claims dept. to offer me a deal and see what they want to do.  What we are hoping they do is to offer me the $ and let me keep the car. 

 

Anyway, I now hate winter more than ever.  Too bad I have to get out in it to work!!!

 

GRRR

 

I looked at 2 houses today owned by the same person just in different towns.  I looked at a 3 bd in Marcelline that was ok but didn't excite me the way the 2 bd in Bucklin did.  It's ALMOST everything I want in a house.  It has central air, central heat, 2 bedrooms upstairs, a bay window, a coat closet, a hall closet, a good size kitchen (needs more cabinets but can make due for now), a walk out basement, w/d hookup, a nice size yard and kinda out in the country but in town too.

It has new carpet throughout but the linoleum in the kitchen needs work.  It has a carport off the kitchen and a garage just past the carport that is setup as a shop.  Not big enough to get my car in I don't think but maybe.

There are only 2 things that bother me about the house and that is the fact that the basement stairs don't have a door to them and they are steep with only a handrail 1/2 way up the stairs.  I talked to Jerry about it tonight and he says if I get the house that we can fix those problems rather easily.

So I took pictures of the houses and showed them to my uncle this afternoon and he told me to think about it a couple days and I will know the right decision.  SO.... I thought about it today some more and talked to Jerry about it and we both agree that I'm not gonna sit on it like I did the last house or it may be too late.

I called the landlord back tonight to tell him I was interested but needed to ask a few questions so hopefully he'll get my message and get back to me tomorrow.  If he answers the 3 questions I have for him with answers that please me then I know I can start the ball rolling.

I'm soooo excited and anxious to hear what he has to say.  I'm so excited about the house I'm hoping that I can rent to own it after I move in and see what the house is really like.

Some of the best things about the house is that I will get to see Jerry more often too and I will be close to a great aunt who lives there who could use my help sometimes.

Sure I will be further away from my work but that's ok because maybe they will give me new clients in Marcelline or maybe I will go to work for someone else who will treat me with some respect.  BUT that's another blog.....

Anyway, I will keep everyone updated on what happens.  Keep your fingers, toes, etc. crossed and pray everything goes well for me.

I looked at a house again yesterday with my dad.  I've looked at this house about 4 times and I really like it.  It has most everything I want in a house but I'm a little nervous about the radiator heaters since I don't know much about them.

I posted the photos I took of the house so you can see part of the house.

Here's a small verbal tour of the house:

Walk in the front door to an enclosed front porch (L-shaped)

Walk inside the other front door into an entry way.  To your left is a staircase to the 2nd floor, to your right are pocket doors that lead to the living room and straight ahead you see a small closet under the stairs and a door leading to a multipurpose room.  You walk into the multipurpose room and see a door to a small bedroom straight ahead and an open doorway to the dining room.  The dining room is situated between the living room and kitchen.  The kitchen has linoleum floors and a small bar situated between the dining room and kitchen.  Through the kitchen is the back door to the enclosed back porch or a doorway to the full bath which is where the washer goes and also has a door way leading to the small bedroom.  The dryer goes on the back porch.

Ok now you walk up the staircase to the 2nd floor, on your right is an L-shaped nook and 2 doors leading to seperate bedrooms.  On your left there is the door to the master bedroom with attic space and an attached master bath.  All the floors except the bathroom and 1 bedroom upstairs are hard wood floors on the 2nd floor.  The first floor has all hardwood floors except for the kitchen and the full bath.

 

I know it will be atleast January before I can move after giving my current landlord 30 days notice and waiting on the housing people to inspect the house.  If the house does not pass inspection the 1st time I will have to wait til the repairs are done and the house is inspected a 2nd time before I will be able to move so it could be Feb. or March before I can move.

 

Rent is $300/mo with a $125 deposit.  What I'm considering doing is renting it for awhile and then seeing if I can rent to own it if I so choose.

Right now I'm still not completely decided but I'm leaning towards YES. 

Any comments/questions welcome.

 

Jayme

Some decisions take a long time to make... and this seems to be one of them.

 

I am looking at 2 different houses right now, each with their own pros and cons.  One I've looked at a total of 3 times in the last 6months and one I've never seen the inside in person (only in pictures).

 

House 1

2 story house

has hardwood floors throughout except in the bathrooms, kitchen and 1 bedroom I think

has 4-5 bedrooms (3 up and 1-2 down)

has radiator heaters in every room

has 2 full baths

$300/mo rent w/o section 8

$228/mo rent w/ section 8

no door knob on the door to the front porch (easily fixed)

screened in/windowed front porch

pocket doors from entry way to living room

no door from possible bedroom to dininig room but a place for a curtain to be hung

small back porch enclosed

house next door empty (tax lien)

no garage

driveway goes from front of house all the way to the alley in the back of the house

master bedroom has no closet but has attic space that could be converted into closet space

possibly high gas bills ($200-$300/mo last winter but w/o plastic, etc)

pets ok

plenty of space

 

House 2

1 1/2 story

2 car garage

sun room

carpet throughout including kitchen and baths

central heat

haven't seen in person just in pictures

don't know the rent yet

heard rumors it floods in the basement (sewer backup maybe)

2 bath

fireplace in the living room

lg yard

built in dishwasher

corner lot on a busy street

 

So now you've seen the pros and cons of the houses I'm debating.  Maybe you can give me your opinion on which one I should choose.